(The Center Square) – Union leaders support an Illinois Senate bill they say would protect workers’ rights and safety standards, but opponents say it could lead to unfair penalties for business owners.
State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, said the intent of Senate Bill 1976 is to ensure that Illinois workers have the same rights they had last year, but he added that the bill is not in its final form.
SB 1976 would prevent state agencies from making “workers’ rights or worker safety” rules less stringent than federal laws. It would also allow the agencies to make the regulations more stringent than those provided in federal law as it existed on Jan. 19, 2025, which is the day before current U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
AFL-CIO president Tim Drea expressed support for SB 1976.
“We are hopeful that the standards that have been in place to protect workers in the workplace, be it public or private, stay. We don’t want to see anything on the federal level, [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] or anybody, take away workplace safety standards that have been established,” Drea said.
Aaron Harris of Michael Best Strategies spoke on behalf of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Harris discussed the chamber’s concerns with potential conflict between state and federal regulations.
“We’re really concerned specifically regarding the difference in penalties. Looking at the state penalty structure, that may be different than the federal penalty structure. We want to make sure employers aren’t confused and there of course aren’t duplicative penalties that could really punish them,” Harris said.
State Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, asked Peters if he would work with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
“There’s still further conversations, as has been noted, with the Department of Labor, so we can get this done,” Peters said
“And the Chamber?” Tracy asked.
“I’m not committed necessarily for the Chamber. I’m willing to have conversations,” Peters replied.
State Sen. Chris Balkema, R-Channahon, noted the opposition from business groups.
“We seem to have all of the folks that are, from an association perspective representing large and small businesses, very unhappy with the current condition. It seems counterintuitive to me to move forward,” Balkema said.
Illinois Department of Labor Legislative and Policy Director Anna Koeppel was asked if her agency was against the bill.
“No, we’re not opposed. We haven’t taken a position. We see the merit in the intent, certainly. The language is just not quite there yet,” Koeppel said.
The committee advanced SB 1976 by a vote of 13 to 5. Peters promised he would not move the bill out of the Senate without further conversations.
